New year, new style? If you have been looking for ways to refresh your wardrobe on a budget, then you may need to do a closet purge first. Akeya has shared everything you need to get started. Let’s dive in!
3 Reasons to Purge Your Closet
A closet purge is a simple process to go through your entire wardrobe and clear out old or unwanted items.
- Eliminate stressful clutter, so you can easily find the clothes in your closet that you actually love to wear.
- Find your personal style. This is the year!
- Give your closet an updated, fresh look that works for you.
How To Purge
In the first three months of this new year, put aside a time to empty out your entire closet and sort through each piece of clothing. Let’s make space for some new pieces!
Set yourself up to sort your clothes into 3 piles — donate, trash, keep — and then go through your closet in this order:
Start off with items that no longer fit you, like those old jeans you’ve been saving just in case.
Then go through the in-season items that you still haven’t worn in months. Since it is winter, think sweaters and coats you haven’t picked up all fall or winter.
The third step is to focus on any outdated items that you don’t wear anymore. This could be an item that was trending previously, but you haven’t picked it up since.
For all of your remaining items of clothing, I recommend trying each one on and seeing how you feel about it. Do you feel confident? Does it hold any sentimental value? If not, then it is okay to get rid of it. We’re starting the new year feeling good in our clothes!
Time to Donate!
Once you have everything sorted, go ahead and toss your trash pile, then place all your gently used items from your Donate pile in a new trash bag or bin and drop them off at your nearest Goodwill. Triad Goodwill also recommends you only donate items that you will give to a family member or friend. Check out their donation guidelines for more information about what and where to donate.
Donating your items to Triad Goodwill enables them to provide job services and employment training. You can learn more about their local community impact here.
Shop for Your New Look
Now that you’ve gotten rid of the old, in with the new! While you’re already at Goodwill, why not head inside and look around for a bit? Thrifting is an awesome way to refresh your style on a budget.
What to look for: Depending on your style, you can never go wrong with updating your basic closet essentials. Goodwill has an amazing selection of basics and styles that are on trend. My suggestion? Start with jeans and t-shirts in your preferred neutrals.Â
If you are seeking an updated look this year, aim first for straight-leg jeans. The straight-leg jeans style is more relaxed and timeless compared to skinny jeans.
Try tops with a mock neck or turtleneck. I also recommend looking for neutral pieces here, because these can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
We are in the middle of winter, so shopping for outerwear now is an excellent idea. Goodwill has a wide selection of coats and jackets. Look for some trendy classics like leather jackets and trench coats.
Check out these two new outfits I created from my own recent Goodwill trip. I hope this blog was helpful and gives you inspiration to refresh your look for the new year!
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Model, content creator, and our very own Thriftanista—
Akeya is a North Carolina based fashion blogger and stylist. She is passionate about sharing chic and colorful outfits without breaking the bank.
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